Scouring implement



Feb. 16,` 1943. M,.E|$ E NBER 25310,-945

A scoURING IMPLEMENT y Filed Feb. 27. 1941 2 snags-shut ,1

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Fd. 16, 1943. M, ISEN'BERGL 2,310,945

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` ATT'ORNEY.

Patented Feb. 16, 1943 SCOURING IMPLEMENT' Maurice Eisenberg, Millburn, N. J., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Downy `Products C'o.,

Orange, N. J.

Application February 27, 1941, 'Serial No. 380,832

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an improved form and construction of scouring implement; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel construction of hand implement which is especially adapted for use as -a kitchen or household aid for scouring and cleansing dirty surfaces, and particularly for scouring and cleansing pots, pans, dishes and various other household utensls.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel scouring and cleansing device of unitary form comprising, a flexible body adapted to be conformingly pressed against and rubbed over a surface to be cleaned, said body having on its surfaces a multiplicity of spaced protuberances so characterized that certain thereof are adapted to produce a comparatively strong plowing and abrasive effect which will quickly loosen and remove encrusted dirt, while others thereof are relatively more iiexble and of softer scraping action, more in the nature of a squeegee effect; protuberances of differing character being variously located so as to be readily available for selective use.

The invention has for another object to provide a scouring device as above characterized cornprising, a flexible body of lrubber or similar material having a novel arrangement of finger engageable means, the body being formed to provide a bend line in such operative relation to the finger engageable means as to facilitate flexing of an end portion of the body, whereby the same may be readily 4conformed to and operatively manipulated against angular surfaces, such e. g. as the corners of pots, pans and the like.

The invention has for another object to provide a unitary device comprising a fiexible body of rubber or similar material having surface protuberances las above stated, said protuberances being selectively treated to enhance their scraping and abrasive effect.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description of the same.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top face view of a scouring implement made according to this invention; Fig. 2 is a bottom face view of the same; Fig. 3 is an edge View of the same; and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof, taken on line 4-4 in Fig. 1, but drawn on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional View showing operative application of the scouring implement to the corner of a pan cr like utensil.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional View on an enlarged scale, showing the incorporation of abrasive material in the body of the implement. and especially in the scraping protuberances thereof; Fig. '7 is a similar fragmentary sectional view showing the plowing and abrading protuberances of the device coated with a treating substance; and Fig. 8 is a similar view, showing abrasive material incorporated in said coating.

Figs. 9 and 10 are respectively fragmentary plan views on an enlarged scale of the top and bottom faces of the implement as provided with somewhat modified forms of abrading and scraping protuberances; and ll is a sectional view of the same, taken on line i l--l l in Fig. 9.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above described 'views to indicate corresponding parts.

The novel scouring implement according to this invention comprises a flexible body l of suitable peripheral shape. Said body I is made of soft vulcanized rubber or of other pliable or flexible material capable of being molded into desired formation. The area of the ybody l is subject to wide variation; the thickness of the body is also subject to some variation, but in practice preferably approximates three-sixteenths of an inch for an implement of average dimension in area of about three by four inches, while the protuberances which project from the faces of the body extend therefrom about one-sixteenth of an inch, more or less.

Projecting from one face of the body l, herein referred to as the bottom face 2, are a multiplicityof relatively spaced protuberances 3 of a character adapted in use to effect a comparatively strong plowing and abrasive action. These protuberances 3 cover substantially the entire area ofsaid bottom face 2. The marginal portions Of the bottom face 2 are preferably upwardly inclined or curved, as at 4, toward the periphery of the body I.

The protuberances 3 are provided with end faces 5 in Vplane parallel to the plane of the bottom face 2; and said protuberances are of suitable polygonal shape in cross-section, as e. g. of right angled or L-shape shown in Fig. 2, or alternatively of the square shape shown in Fig. 10, or of such other shape and disposition as will present plowing edges or points in various directions. As shown, the protuberances 3 provide forwardly projected V-shaped plowing edges or points 6, rearwardly projected V-shaped plowing edges or points 'I, and laterally and oppositely projecting V-shaped plowing edges or points 8, to the end that, whatever the direction of movement imparted to the implement in use, when the protuberances 3 are pressed against and moved over a surface to be cleaned, whether forward and back or sidewise in either direction, a plowing edge or point will be forcibly directed against dirt incrustations desired to be dislodged and scraped away from the surface operated upon.

Formed on the other face of the body I, herein referred to as the top face 9, are a series of finger engageable depressions or sockets IG, the same being preferably spaced radially adjacent to one end of the body. The bottoms of these depressions or sockets IG may, if desired, be suitably roughened, by knurling or like means as shown, so as to give further assurance against finger slip. These finger engageable depressions or sockets Iii afford in use a firm engagement of the operators hand with the implement, whereby the bottom face, having the plowing and strongly abrasive protuberances 3, can be both eectively pressed against the surface to be scoured as well as reciprocably moved or propelled and thus rubbed over the same.

In order to permit easy up-bending of at least one end of the body I, so as to facilitate conformation of its bottom face, which carries the plowing and strongly abrasive protuberances 3, to angular surfaces, such e. g. as the corners of pots, pans and like utensils, said bottom face 2 of the implement is preferably provided with a slightly depressed channel o-r groove II spaced from an end of the body substantially in line With the forward ends or tips of the above mentioned finger engageable depressions or sockets ID, thereby providing the body, in such location, with a portion I2 of reduced thickness, and consequently increased flexibility, so that a bend line is established to facilitate up-bending of marginal portions of the implement for engagement in and with the corners of angularly related or divergent surfaces of a utensil to which the implement is operatively applied for scouring and cleansing effect. The operation of the implement for this effect is illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

Projecting from said top face 9 of the body I, throughout a substantial area thereof behind the nger engageable depressions or sockets IEB, are a multiplicity of relatively spaced protuberances I3 of a character adapted to effect a comparatively mild scraping and abrading action, more in the nature of a squeegee effect. The protuberances I3 are of substantially semi-circular (Fig. 1) or circular (Fig. 9) cross-sectional shape, and are somewhat yielding as compared with the more rigid protuberances 3 of the bottom face, being therefore adapted to provide bladelike wiping or scraping elements having contact edges I!! parallel to the plane of said top face which, when applied to and moved over a surface to be cleaned, will effect a strong wiping action adapted to quickly remove liquid and more or less viscous substances desired to be dislodged from a surface being cleaned with the implement. For example, the protuberances I3 are highly effective for use in cleaning the surfaces of Crockery, glassware and the like. A very desirable form for the protuberances I3, is that shown in Fig. l, wherein the same are of crescentoid shape in cross-section, and so relatively arranged that in respectively adjacent rows, the concave faces thereof are oppositely directed, i. e. the concave faces of one row are forwardly directed and those of the next adjacent row rearwardly directed.

In Figs. 9 to 11 inclusive, the illustrative forms of protuberances 3 and I3 therein shown, include an axial hollow chamber I5 opening out of the end contact faces thereof. In instances where this optional feature is used in connection with the protuberances, an added effect is obtained, viz. as the ends of the resilient protuberances are pressed against the surface operated upon by the scouring implement, air is displaced from the chambers I5, which thereupon exert a suction effect calculated to greatly assist in the loosening and removal of dirt from the surface being cleaned.

In order to enhance the abrasive effect of the implement, suitable abrasives may be incorporated in the material of the implement, especially in the protuberances thereof. Since the protuberances 3 on the bottom face 2 of the implement are designed, both from shape and location standpoints, to perform the heavier work of loosening and removing encrusted dirt from a surface being cleaned, it is desirable to provide said protuberances with an abrasive of comparatively harsh action, whereas with respect to the protuberances I3, which are designed for softer action, more in the nature of a wiping or squeegee action, an abrasive of finer or milder character, or in fact no abrasive at all, is desirable. This is illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings, whereby in the under part of the body I, which carries the protuberances 3, is incorporated a strong or comparatively harsh abrasive, such e. g. as emery powder, whereas in the upper part of the body I, which carries the protuberances I3, is incorporated a mild abrasive, such as e. g. nely pulverized pumice stone, which, as above suggested, may even be omitted entirely.

Another means for increasing the plowing and cutting effect of the stronger acting protuberances 3 is shown in Figs. '7 and 8, and consists in coating the protuberances with a covering I6 of nitrocellulose or other tough but sufficiently elastic lacquer, varnish or the like. Such substance somewhat hardens the surfaces of the protuberances, while still leaving the same sufficiently yieldable to readily conform to and press upon the surface to which the implement is applied for cleaning, and yet such coating is not sufficiently hard as to produce undesirable scoring or gouging of the surface being cleaned by the protuberances so treated. As shown in Fig. 8 if it is desired to enhance the abrasive effect of the protuberances 3 as thus coated, a suitable abrasive may be mixed with and incorporated in the coating substance.

The tapered peripheral edges of the body I, resulting from the upwardly inclined or curved marginal portions d of the bottom face 2 thereof, provide portions which may be readily applied in sharp corners of pots, pans and other utensils to clean out the same; and to render such applications of the implement effective, said tapered peripheral edges are provided with protuberances in the form of seri-ations or teeth Il. Said serrations or teeth Il may be provided along the entire peripheral extent of the body, or merely along a selected section or selected sections of said peripheral extent.

The resiliency or compressibility of the protuberances with which the body is provided may be modified to afford a greater or lesser degree thereof by tapering the protuberances more or less from their bases outwardly toward their free or contact face ends.

From the above description it will be obvious that the instant invention provides a novel hand implement for scouring and cleaning pots, pans, Crockery and other household utensils; said implement being of unitary form and adapted for both strong plowing and abrading effects and milder wiping or squeegee effects; and said implement being itself subject to easy and quick cleansing after use, to the end that a sanitary device for the intended purposes is provided.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

A scouring implement comprising, a substantially flat body of rubber having on one face thereof a multiplicity of relatively spaced protuberan'ces having Contact ends parallel to the plane of said face, said protuberances being or" polygonal cross-sectional shape to provide lateral V-shaped plowing edges projecting in various directions, the opposite face of said body having spaced nger engageable sockets radially spaced around and adjacent to an end thereof, and said first mentioned face having a channel formed therein in substantial alignment with and beneath the outer extremities of said sockets whereby to provide a bend-line to facilitate upturning of marginal portions of the body when the latter is applied to angular surfaces.

MAURICE EISENBERG 

